Sooke residents to vote on borrowing for community centre

Voters in Sooke, B.C., will decide this fall whether the district should borrow up to $5 million for a proposed intergenerational community centre called the Sooke Gathering Place. The project is planned as a dropin space for seniors and youth, with room for social activities such as yoga, arts and crafts, and group lunches. Supporters say it would help address the lack of a dedicated community hub in the town centre. The initiative has been discussed for more than a decade, and the nonbinding plebiscite is intended to guide the next council. The nonprofit leading the effort has already raised more than $400,000, and organizers hope the vote will help attract more funding before any final borrowing plan is approved.